Credit repair by analysis of trade line properties

ABSTRACT

A method for taking appropriate action on a credit report for an individual based on analysis of properties of at least some of the trade lines of the credit report. Upon accessing the credit report, each of at least some of the trade lines in the credit report are processed by 1) identifying one or more properties of the subject trade line, 2) performing one or more removal success rate estimations for similar trade lines having at least one like property compared to the subject trade line, and 3) calculating at least one removability index (e.g., an item removal difficulty index or an item removal speed index) for the subject trade line based on the removal success estimation(s). The calculated removability indices are then aggregated for multiple trade lines, and the course of action for the credit report as a whole is determined based on the removability indices.

BACKGROUND

A credit bureau (also called a Consumer Reporting Agency or CRA) is acompany that collects information from various sources aboutindividuals, and aggregates such information into a credit report.Currently, there are three major credit bureaus in the United Statesincluding EQUIFAX®, TRANSUNION® and EXPERIAN™.

The credit reports are relied upon by potential and current creditors ofthe individual, and other authorized entities, when determining whetherto take appropriate action regarding the corresponding individual, suchas whether to extend credit and under what terms, whether to lease aproperty, whether to extend an offer of employment, and so forth. Thus,negative items on an individual's credit report can adversely affect theopportunity available to that individual.

Often, a credit score is generated based on the credit report, whichallows for a quick and rough approximation of the creditworthiness ofthe individual. One common credit score used in most applications forcredit is called a FICO® SCORE®. FICO and FICO SCORE are registeredtrademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation. However, there are other scoresless commonly used and generated by different algorithms using creditreport items as input.

Credit repair services are offered by a number of organizations for thepurpose of helping individuals improve their credit scores, therebyimproving the opportunities available to the individual. For instance,the credit repair service may impact credit scoring by requesting thatcredit bureaus demonstrate that an individual's credit report tradelines have been reported fairly and accurately and can be fullysubstantiated by the associated information providers. For instance, bycausing correspondence to be sent to the credit bureaus directly, in theform of an investigative inquiry or perhaps just a dispute regarding aquestionable negative item, the credit bureaus may sometimes, but notalways, remove that negative item from their credit reports when it isdetermined that the negative item is either based upon obviously falseinformation, or cannot be readily and fully substantiated, or has notbeen fairly reported in accordance with applicable consumer protectionstatutes. Alternatively or in addition, by causing correspondence to besent to a creditor, the creditor might likewise correspond with thecredit bureaus causing the negative item to be removed from affectedcredit reports. As false, unsubstantiated, or unfairly reported negativeitems are removed or revised, the individual's credit scores tend toimprove.

BRIEF SUMMARY

At least one embodiment described herein relates a computer-implementedmethod for taking appropriate action on a credit report for anindividual using an analysis of properties of at least some of itsconstituent trade lines. Upon accessing the credit report, each of atleast some of the trade lines in the credit report are processed by 1)identifying one or more properties of the trade line, 2) performing oneor more removal success rate estimations for similar trade lines havingat least one like property, and 3) calculating at least one removabilityindex (e.g., an item removal difficulty index or an item removal speedindex) for the trade line based on the removal success estimation(s).The calculated removability indices are then aggregated, and the courseof action for the credit report as a whole is determined based on theremovability indices.

For instance, as one example, the removability indices may be used inorder to identify a sequence in which to intercede on the trade lines.Intercession might be accomplished by, for example, dispatching a letterto a creditor or a credit bureau regarding the trade line. Thesequencing may also depend on the anticipated impact of having the tradeline removed from the credit report.

The aggregated removability indices may be used to calculate a level ofdifficulty for improving the credit report, potentially leading topersonalized communication with the client. If performed for multiplecredit reports for an individual, and factoring in other data such asdemographic data, and rate of improvement of credit score, a risk ofattrition may be estimated for the individual.

This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essentialfeatures of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used asan aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features can be obtained, a more particular descriptionof various embodiments will be rendered by reference to the appendeddrawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only sampleembodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of thescope of the invention, the embodiments will be described and explainedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a computing system in which some embodimentsdescribed herein may be employed;

FIG. 2 abstractly illustrates a credit report data structure whichincludes multiple trade line data structures representing credit reporttrade lines;

FIG. 3 illustrates a credit reporting environment in which creditreports are generated, including multiple credit bureaus, multipleinformation providers (such as creditors), multiple individuals, and acredit repair system;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining appropriateaction on a credit report using properties of constituent trade lines;

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer architecture that may be represented inmemory of a computing system, such as the computing system of FIG. 1, inorder to perform the method of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing a first courseof action including the sequencing of intercession for the trade lines;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing a secondcourse of action including determining a difficulty of the creditreport; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing a third courseof action including determining an attrition risk for the client.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least one embodiment described herein relates to a method, such as acomputer-implemented method, for taking appropriate action on a creditreport for an individual based on analysis of properties of at leastsome of the trade lines of the credit report. Upon accessing the creditreport, each of at least some of the trade lines in the credit reportare processed by 1) identifying one or more properties of the subjecttrade line, 2) performing one or more removal success rate estimationsfor similar trade lines having at least one like property compared tothe subject trade line, and 3) calculating at least one removabilityindex (e.g., an item removal difficulty index or an item removal speedindex) for the subject trade line based on the removal successestimation(s). The calculated removability indices are then aggregatedfor multiple trade lines, and the course of action for the credit reportas a whole is determined based on the removability indices.

For instance, as one example, the removability indices may be used inorder to identify a sequence in which to intercede on the trade lines.Intercession might be accomplished by, for example, dispatching a letterto a creditor or a credit bureau regarding the trade line. Thesequencing may also depend on the anticipated impact of having the tradeline removed from the credit report.

The aggregated removability indices may be used to calculate a level ofdifficulty for improving the credit report. If performed for multiplecredit reports for an individual, and factoring in other data such asdemographic data, and rate of improvement of credit score, a risk ofattrition may be estimated for the individual.

First, some introductory discussion regarding computing systems will bedescribed with respect to FIG. 1. Then, a credit report and creditreporting environment will be described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3.Then, embodiments of the credit repair system and its operation, inaccordance with the principles described herein, will be described withrespect to FIGS. 4 through 8.

Computing systems are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms.Computing systems may, for example, be handheld devices, appliances,laptop computers, desktop computers, mainframes, distributed computingsystems, or even devices that have not conventionally been considered acomputing system. In this description and in the claims, the term“computing system” is defined broadly as including any device or system(or combination thereof) that includes at least one physical andtangible processor, and a physical and tangible memory capable of havingthereon computer-executable instructions that may be executed by theprocessor. The memory may take any form and may depend on the nature andform of the computing system. A computing system may be distributed overa network environment and may include multiple constituent computingsystems.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in its most basic configuration, a computingsystem 100 typically includes at least one processing unit 102 andmemory 104. The memory 104 may be physical system memory, which may bevolatile, non-volatile, or some combination of the two. The term“memory” may also be used herein to refer to non-volatile mass storagesuch as physical storage media. If the computing system is distributed,the processing, memory and/or storage capability may be distributed aswell. As used herein, the term “module” or “component” can refer tosoftware objects or routines that execute on the computing system. Thedifferent components, modules, engines, and services described hereinmay be implemented as objects or processes that execute on the computingsystem (e.g., as separate threads).

In the description that follows, embodiments are described withreference to acts that are performed by one or more computing systems.If such acts are implemented in software, one or more processors of theassociated computing system that performs the act direct the operationof the computing system in response to having executedcomputer-executable instructions. An example of such an operationinvolves the manipulation of data. The computer-executable instructions(and the manipulated data) may be stored in the memory 104 of thecomputing system 100. Computing system 100 may also containcommunication channels 108 that allow the computing system 100 tocommunicate with other message processors over, for example, network110. If interaction with the user is beneficial, the computing system100 may also include a display 112 and potentially other input/outputdevices.

Embodiments described herein may comprise or utilize a special purposeor general-purpose computer including computer hardware, such as, forexample, one or more processors and system memory, as discussed ingreater detail below. Embodiments described herein also include physicaland other computer-readable media for carrying or storingcomputer-executable instructions and/or data structures. Suchcomputer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer system.Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions arephysical storage media. Computer-readable media that carrycomputer-executable instructions are transmission media. Thus, by way ofexample, and not limitation, embodiments of the invention can compriseat least two distinctly different kinds of computer-readable media:computer storage media and transmission media.

Computer storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired programcode means in the form of computer-executable instructions or datastructures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer.

A “network” is defined as one or more data links that enable thetransport of electronic data between computer systems and/or modulesand/or other electronic devices. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to acomputer, the computer properly views the connection as a transmissionmedium. Transmissions media can include a network and/or data linkswhich can be used to carry or desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinationsof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Further, upon reaching various computer system components, program codemeans in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structurescan be transferred automatically from transmission media to computerstorage media (or vice versa). For example, computer-executableinstructions or data structures received over a network or data link canbe buffered in RAM within a network interface module (e.g., a “NIC”),and then eventually transferred to computer system RAM and/or to lessvolatile computer storage media at a computer system. Thus, it should beunderstood that computer storage media can be included in computersystem components that also (or even primarily) utilize transmissionmedia.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which, when executed at a processor, cause a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing deviceto perform a certain function or group of functions. The computerexecutable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediateformat instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the described features or acts described above.Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example formsof implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may bepracticed in network computing environments with many types of computersystem configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers,laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones,PDAs, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The invention may also bepracticed in distributed system environments where local and remotecomputer systems, which are linked (either by hardwired data links,wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless datalinks) through a network, both perform tasks. In a distributed systemenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

Having described a computing system 100 that may implement features ofthe embodiments described herein, the principles of the novelcomputer-assisted credit repair techniques will be now be described.

FIG. 2 abstractly represents a credit report 200 that includes a numberof trade lines 210 (of which trade lines 211, 212 and 213 are abstractlyillustrated) relevant to the creditworthiness of an individualidentified in the credit report with an individual identifier 201. Thecredit report 200 will be referred to herein as a “credit report for anindividual” or a “credit report for the individual”. The ellipses 214represent that there may be any number of trade lines 210 in the creditreport 200, and will depend on how much information has been provided bycreditors and other information providers regarding the individual. A“trade line” is defined herein as any credit report entry. Typically, atrade line will correspond to a credit account attributed to theindividual, and may include supplemental information such as, forexample, the creditor identifier, the balance, and the status.

FIG. 3 illustrates a credit reporting environment 300 in which creditreports are generated. The environment 300 includes credit bureaus 310,information providers 320, individuals 330, and a credit repair system301. The credit bureaus 310 include three credit bureaus 310A, 310B and310C, although the ellipses 310D represent flexibility in the number ofcredit bureaus in the environment. In the United States, there are threeprimary credit bureaus including EQUIFAX®, TRANSUNION® and EXPERIAN™.However, the principles described herein are not limited to the creditbureaus that operate in a particular region of the world, nor are theylimited to currently existing credit bureaus.

The credit bureaus 310 each maintain a credit report for each of theindividuals 330. For instance, individuals 330 are illustrated asincluding five individuals 330A through 330E. Accordingly, the creditbureau 310A maintains credit reports 311A through 311E corresponding torespective individuals 330A through 330E, the credit bureau 310Bmaintains credit reports 312A through 312E corresponding to respectiveindividuals 330A through 330E, and the credit bureau 310C maintainscredit reports 313A through 313E corresponding to respective individuals330A through 330E. The ellipses 330F represent that there may be anynumber of individuals about whom the credit bureaus maintain a creditreport. This flexibility is represented by ellipses 311F, 312F and 313F.Typically, a credit bureau will maintain a credit report regarding eachof many millions of individuals. Each credit report is abstractlyrepresented by an instance of the credit report 200 illustrated in FIG.2.

The environment 200 also includes information providers 320. There arefour information providers 320A through 320D illustrated, although theellipses 320E represent flexibility in this number. Furthermore, for anygiven individual, the information providers may be different.Information providers are most typically current or prospectivecreditors of the individual about whom they are providing information.However, other information providers (such as courts or governmentagencies) might provide information for the credit report.

Information providers might also consume credit reports corresponding toan individual to whom they may extend credit, lease a property, orextend offers of employment. The potential bi-directional nature of suchcommunication is represented by bi-directional arrow 341. The direct orindirect interaction between the individuals 330 and the informationproviders 320 that results in the information providers 320 obtainingreportable information regarding the individuals 330 is represented bybi-directional arrow 342. Accordingly, through interaction 341 and 342,credit reports may be generated by credit bureaus 310.

The operation of the credit repair system 301 will now be described withrespect to FIGS. 4 through 8. FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method400 for determining appropriate action on a credit report usingproperties of constituent trade lines. In some embodiments, the method400 may be performed by, for example, the computing system 100 of FIG. 1implemented in the credit repair system 301 of FIG. 3, although notrequired.

The method 400 begins by accessing a credit report for an individual(act 401). For instance, referring to FIG. 3, the credit repair system301 accesses a credit report (e.g., credit report 311A) associated withan individual (e.g., individual 330A). This act might involve accessingthe credit report for the individual from multiple credit bureaus. Forinstance, the credit repair system 301 might access all three creditreports 311A, 312A and 313A from respective credit bureaus associatedwith a single individual 330A.

The accessing of the credit report may be performed by requesting thecorresponding credit report from the credit bureau. In response, asrepresented by arrow 351 in FIG. 3, the credit bureau responds bydispatching the credit report to the credit repair system 301 asrepresented by arrow 351 in FIG. 3. For instance, the credit reportmight be a physical or electronic copy of the credit report. In someembodiments, the credit bureau and the credit repair system maycooperatively interact to exchange data representative of the creditreport in which the data is structured accordance with some negotiatedschema. For instance, the credit bureau may provide an eXtensible MarkupLanguage (XML) file representing the credit report to the credit repairsystem 301. As a side note, communications involved in establishing thecredit report are represented by solid-lined arrows (e.g., arrows 341and 342) in FIG. 3. However, communications involved in repairing creditare represented by dotted-lined arrows (e.g., arrows 351, 352 and 353)in FIG. 3.

In some cases, the credit bureau and the credit repair system 301 maynot have such an integrated interface. Furthermore, in some cases thecredit bureau may not provide even a physical copy of the credit reportto the credit repair system 301. In that case, the individual themselvesmay request the credit report from the credit bureau. Alternatively, theindividual may provide authentication credentials to the credit repairsystem 301, allowing the credit repair system 301 to access the creditreport on the individual's behalf online. Both of these cases arerepresented by the arrow 352 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer architecture 500 that may be representedin memory of a computing system (such as in the memory 104 of thecomputing system 100 of FIG. 1), in order to perform the method 400 ofFIG. 4. For instance, the computer architecture 500 may be presentwithin a computing system in the credit repair service 301 of FIG. 3.Referring FIG. 5, the credit report 200 is received by the computerarchitecture as represented by arrow 505.

The various modules 510, 520, 530, 540 and 550 of FIG. 5 may be createdin memory by having the computing system accesses computer-executableinstructions from memory, and having the computing system executingthose computer-executable instructions using one or more digitalprocessors thereby causing the computer architecture 500 of FIG. 5 to begenerated and to be operated as described herein. In this description,accessing items “from memory” and providing “to memory” is not to beinterpreted as necessitating that “memory” be a single device or type ofmemory. The memory may be multiple devices, and multiple different typesof memory at perhaps different levels of the memory hierarchy all theway from non-volatile storage (locally or remotely located) all the wayup to processor registers. Thus, the term “memory” should be interpretedbroadly in the description and in the claims.

Referring to FIG. 4, the contents of dashed-lined box 410 are thenperformed for each of at least some of the trade lines within the one ormore credit reports accessed in act 401. If the credit report isprovided in physical form, then a human being might type the trade linesfrom the credit report into a computing system. Referring to FIG. 5, ifthe credit report is in electronic format, the parser component mayparse the credit report (e.g., credit report 200) to access multipletrade lines from the credit report 200. The parser may further generatecorresponding trade line data structures 511 through 513 correspondingto trade lines 211 through 213 of the credit report 200. The number oftrade lines extracted by the parser 510 is, however, flexible. Theprinciples described herein do not require that all trade lines beparsed, though it is helpful to parse more.

If the credit report is an image file, the parser 510 may perform textrecognition. If the credit report is in text format, the parser 510 mayscan the text to find the boundaries of the trade lines. If the creditreport is in a predetermined schema (e.g., in XML format), then theparser 510 may perform XML parsing.

The trade line data structures are “passed” from the parser to thecharacterization module 520 as represented by arrow 515. In thisdescription and in the claims, when a source module of a computerarchitecture “passes” a data structure to a target module, this meansthat the source module causes the target module to be able to access thedata structure. For instance, one way to do this is to simply providethe data structure to memory at a location that may then be accessed bythe target module. Such passing is represented by rightward-facingarrows in FIG. 5.

Referring back to FIG. 4, for each of at least some of the parsed tradelines, the trade line is then accessed (act 411), and a set of one ormore properties of the trade line are identified (act 412). Examples ofproperties of trade lines include 1) whether the trade line is aninstallment (for an installment loan) or revolving (e.g., a revolvingline of credit), 2) the severity type of the trade line, 3) a balancerange of the trade line, 4) a utilization ratio range of the trade lineand 5), a creditor identity for the trade line.

Examples of severity level values include 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, 120+day, Charge-off, Collection, Incl in BK, Bankrupcy, Settlement,Repossession, Lien, Judgment, Garnishment, Foreclosure. Examples ofbalance range values include 0 to 250 dollars, 251 to 500 dollars, 501to 750 dollars, 751 to 1000 dollars, 1001 to 2500 dollars, 2501 to 5000dollars, and 5001 dollars and above. Examples of utilization ratio rangevalues include 0 to 10 percent, 10.1 to 30 percent, 30.1 to 50 percent,50.1 to 70 percent, 70.1 to 80 percent, 80.1 to 90 percent, and 90.1 to100 percent. Examples of creditor identifier values are names ofspecific banks, utility companies, collection companies, retail stores,credit card providers, and so forth.

If the method 400 is performed by the computing system 100 in the creditrepair system 301, a trade line characterization module 520 identifies aset of one or more properties of the subject trade line (act 412). Forinstance, the trade line characterization module 520 accesses thedigital representation of the trade line 511, identifies a set of one ofmore properties of the trade line using the accessed trade line digitalrepresentation 511, and provides a digital representation 521A, 521B and521C of the set of one or more properties into memory as represented byarrow 525A. Furthermore, the trade line characterization module 520accesses the digital representation of the trade line 512, identifies aset of one of more properties of the trade line using the accessed tradeline digital representation 512, and provides a digital representation522A, 522B and 522C of the set of one or more properties into memory asrepresented by arrow 525B. Also, the trade line characterization module520 accesses the digital representation of the trade line 513,identifies a set of one of more properties of the trade line using theaccessed trade line digital representation 513, and provides a digitalrepresentation 523A, 523B and 523C of the set of one or more propertiesinto memory as represented by arrow 525C.

Of course, while in this example each trade line is identified as havingthree properties, the trade line characterization module 520 mayidentify any number of properties from the corresponding trade line. Forinstance, the trade line characterization module 520 might identify 1)the severity level, 2) installment versus revolving, 3) balance range,and 4) creditor name.

Referring back to FIG. 4, one or more removal success rate estimationsare then made for like trade likes that have all or a subset of the oneor more properties of the subject trade line. For instance, thisestimation may be made based on historical success rates for trade lineshaving one of the properties of the subject trade line. Suppose, forexample, that a particular trade line (also referred to as the “subjecttrade line”) being evaluated has the following four property values:

1) Severity Type: Collection

2) Installment versus Revolving: Revolving

3) Balance Level: 501 to 750 dollars

4) Creditor: Fiction Bank, Inc.

In this case, the act 413 might involve calculating as few as one, andas many as four removal success rate estimations. The case ofcalculating four removal success rate estimations will first bedescribed.

In the case of four removal success rate estimations, to calculate afirst remove success rate estimation, the historical performance of thetrade lines that also have the first property value “Collection” of thefirst property “Severity Type” is determined For instance, suppose thattaking all the trade lines having this Severity Type of valueCollections, there has been a success rate (referred to as SRA inequation 1 for Success Rate Actual) in response to a single intercession(e.g., the sending of a targeted letter to the creditor or creditagency) of 21%. This value may be compared to the average success rate(referred to as SRE in equation 1 for Success Rate Expected) for asingle intercession for all trade lines of 20%. Thus, if a trade line isa Collection trade line, there is a slightly better chance than randomof having an intercession be successful. In one embodiment, a removalsuccess rate estimation might be defined by the following Equation 1,where RSRE is the removal success rate estimation.

RSRE=N*((SRE−SRA)/SRE)   (1)

Suppose that N is 1000 (but may be arbitrary), this would result in thefirst RSRE value (corresponding to “Collection” severity type) being1000*((0.20−0.21)/0.2), which reduces to 1000*(−0.01/0.2), which equals−50. Thus RSRE₁ equals −50.

This same Equation 1 may be used again for the second removal successrate estimation (RSRE₂), which is determined by evaluating historicalremoval success rate estimate for all trade lines in which theinstallment versus revolving value matches that of the subject tradeline being evaluated. In this case, that property value is Revolving.For instance, suppose that taking all the trade lines of a Revolvingtype, there has been a single intercession success rate of 12%. Thisvalue may be compared to the average single intercession success ratefor all trade lines of 20%. Thus, if a trade line is a Revolving type,there is a much less chance than random of having an intercession besuccessful. Applying Equation 1 for RSRE₂ should then yield1000*(0.2−0.12/0.2), which equals 400. Thus, we see that positive valuesfor RSRE result in an estimation that these types of trade lines areless successful than average after a single intercession, whereasnegative values for RSRE result in an estimation that these types oftrade lines are more successful than average after a singleintercession.

Equation 1 may be used again for the third removal success rateestimation (RSRE₃), which is determined by evaluating historical removalsuccess rates for all trade lines in which the balance level valuematches that of the trade line being evaluated (in this case, 501 to 750dollars). For instance, suppose that taking all the trade lines of abalance level of 501 to 750 dollars, there has been a singleintercession success rate of 25%. This value may be compared to theaverage single intercession success rate for all trade lines of 20%.Thus, if a trade line is a Revolving type, there is a greater chancethan random of having an intercession be successful. Applying Equation 1for RSRE₃ should then yield 1000*(0.2−0.25/0.2), which equals −250.

Equation 1 may finally be used for the last removal success rateestimation (RSRE₄), which is determined by evaluating historical removalsuccess rates for all trade lines in which the creditor identifier valuematches that of the trade line being evaluated (in this case, FictionalBank., Inc.). Needless to say, “Fictional Bank, Inc.” is not intended torefer to any specific bank, but is just a fabricated name used simplyfor the purpose of this description. For instance, suppose that takingall the trade lines for the Fictional Bank, Inc., there has been asingle intercession success rate of 20%. This value may be compared tothe average single intercession success rate for all trade lines of 20%.Thus, if a trade line corresponds to Fictional Bank, Inc., there is justas much of a chance of a successful intercession as random. ApplyingEquation 1 for RSRE₄ should then yield 1000*(0.2−0.20/0.2), which equalszero.

Thus, in this case, where a removal success rate estimate (RSRE₁, RSRE₂,RSRE₃ and RSRE₄) was calculated for each of the four properties of thesubject trade line, there are likewise four removal success rateestimates. In another embodiment, there is but one removal success rateestimate. In yet other embodiments, there is some number of estimatesbetween one and the number of properties in the subject property. Thisdescription will return to these alternative embodiments further below.But for now, this description will progress further through FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the credit report system then calculates atleast one removability index for the trade line based on the at leastone removal success estimation (act 414). For instance, in the case ofthere being one removal success rate estimation RSRE for every propertyof the trade line, the following values were derived in the example:

RSRE₁=−50;

RSRE₂=400;

RSRE₃=−250; and

RSRE₄=0.

The calculation of the removability index might be obtained by usingthese four factors. For instance, the four RSRE values might be simplysummed, which would lead to a removability index of positive 100 (e.g.,−50+400−250+0). Of course, other more complex functions might also beused. The removability index might be referred to as an “item difficultyvalence” or “IDV” herein.

In some embodiments, as an alternative or in addition to calculating theIDV, another removability index may be calculated. For instance, suchmight be referred to as an “item speed valence” or “ISV”. In this case,different RSRE values might be calculated for each of the fourproperties based on an average speed in which like trade lines areresolved, when they are resolved. A similar calculation on these otherRSRE values may be used to determine in ISV for the trade line. Theseremovability indices are, however, just examples. Any removability indexfor a trade line that provides some clue as to the likelihood and/orspeed in being able to remove the trade line from the credit report willsuffice consistent with the broader principles described herein.

In this example, four RSRE values were used to calculate a single IDVvalue for a trade line. In an alternative embodiment, a single RSREvalue might have been calculated. For instance, consider the sameexample in which there is a trade line for a revolving line of creditfrom Fiction Bank, Inc. that was in collection, and having a balance inthe range of 501 to 750 dollars. If the historical data was refinedenough, there might be enough of a sample size to be able to determinehistorical success rates for exactly those types of trade lines thathave all four properties being the same. For instance, if the overallsuccess rate was 18.5 percent for exactly that type of trade line,Equation 1 might be applied to determine a single RSRE value (RSRE₁₂₃₄)of 1000*((0.2−0.185)/0.2), which equals 75. In this case, thecalculation of the IDV value (in act 414) might be trivial, and justmade equal to the RSRE value. An ISV value may be calculated in asimilar way if there is sufficient historical speed data regarding tradelines of that exact type.

Accordingly, two examples have been described, a first in which fourRSRE values were determined (RSRE₁, RSRE₂, RSRE₃ and RSRE₄) and theremovability index calculated based on those four factors, and a secondin which a single RSRE value was determined (RSRE₁₂₃₄) and theremovability index calculated based on that factor. However, in hybridapproaches, there might be only two RSRE values calculated, one based onone property (e.g., RSRE₁) and one based on a combination of the otherproperties (e.g., RSRE₂₃₄). All other permutations are contemplated tobe within the scope of the principles described herein. Also, all mannerof calculation of the RSRE values are also contemplated to be within thescope of the principles described herein.

In any case, if the calculation of the removability index is performedby a computing system 100 in the context of the credit repair system 301of FIG. 3, the calculation may be performed by, for example, theremovability indices calculation module 540, which receives the removalsuccess estimations as represented by arrow 535. For instance, theremovability indices calculation module 540 may access the removalsuccess estimations from memory, calculate the removability indices anddigitally represent such as a removability index data structure, andprovide the digital representation of the removability indices intomemory as represented by arrow 545.

The contents of box 410 may be performed for multiple trade lines aspreviously mentioned. Accordingly, one or more removability indices foreach of multiple trade lines may be aggregated (act 402). Then, a courseof action may then be determined based on the calculated removabilityindices (act 403). For instance, if performed by a computer system 100in the credit repair system 301, a business logic module 550 accessesthe digital representations of the removability indices from memory asrepresented by arrow 545, calculates an appropriate action based on thisinput, which the appropriate action represented by arrow 555.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method 600 for accomplishing a firstcourse of action. In this embodiment, the course of action is that asequence of intercession of the trade lines is embarked upon. An exampleof an intercession with respect to trade line is the dispatching of atargeted letter regarding the trade line to the corresponding creditoror to the credit bureau. This dispatching is represented by the arrow353 in FIG. 3. First, the method 600 includes sequencing initiation ofintercession associated with trade lines corresponding to the calculatedremovability indices at least in part based on the calculatedremovability indices (act 601). Client preferences may be used toperform this sequencing, in addition to consulting the calculatedremovability indices. Easier intercessions that result in greater impacton credit score might, for example, be targeted for earlier action tothat the client can experience more rapid early improvement in thecredit score. Such may help the client realize the effectiveness of thecredit repair service 301.

Once the sequence is generated, intercession may be initiated accordingto the sequence (act 602). For instance, when it is time to initiateintercession associated with a trade line, a physical letter relating tothe trade line is mailed to a creditor associated with the trade line,or a credit bureau associated with the credit report. However, theprinciples described herein are not limited to any particular type ofintercession mechanism. Other communication mechanisms such as inperson, telephonic, or electronic may also be used to intercede for theclient for a given trade line.

In the embodiments described above, the statistics associated withhistorical success rates were evaluated based on actual empiricalsuccess rates based on trade lines having similar properties to thesubject trade line. However, the intercession methodology was leftgeneric in this analysis. However, the statistical analysis may befurther refined by evaluating historical success rates associated withdifferent intercession methodology. For instance, one intercessionmethodology might be to send a letter of a first type to a creditor,whereas another methodology might be to send a letter of a second typeto the creditor, and yet a third methodology might be to send a letterof a third type to the credit bureau. Refined estimates of success maythus be determined based not only on the historical success rates oflike trade lines, but alternatively or addition, may be based upondifferent intercession methodologies. Thus, in addition to choosing asequencing of intercession, the intercession methodology for each tradeline may also be determined

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method 700 corresponding to a secondcourse of action. In this second course of action, a relative difficultyin improving the credit report is calculated based on the aggregatedremovability indices (act 701). The method 700 generates an index ofdifficulty for the credit report (702). For instance, this difficultyindex may be proportional to the sum of the removability indices of thevarious trade lines in the credit report. The method 700 then involvesperforming additional client communications based on the calculateddifficulty in improving the credit report (act 703). For instance,telephonic, electronic or postal communications may be dispatched to theclient, particularly if the credit report is anticipated to be adifficult case for credit repair.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method 800 corresponding to a thirdcourse of action associated with estimating a risk of attrition of aclient requesting improvement of a credit report of the individual. Inthis method 800, a calculated difficulty in improving the credit reportis accessed (act 801). For instance, the difficulty index calculated inact 702 of method 700 may be accessed. As the credit repair service 301may access various iterations of the credit report, the difficulty indexassociated with prior iterations of the credit report may also beaccessed (also act 801). Also, demographics of the client may beaccessed (act 802), in addition to a results rate in improving thecredit report of the individual (act 803). Based on these input factors,a risk of attribution associated with the client may be calculated (act804). Such calculation may, for example, be based on historical dataregarding attrition of prior clients.

Accordingly, the principles described herein provide an advancedmechanism for evaluating credit repair techniques. The present inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from itsspirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to beconsidered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Thescope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claimsrather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embracedwithin their scope.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for sequentially dispatching credit reportintercession letter for a credit report, the method comprising:accessing a credit report for an individual; for each of at least someof the plurality of trade lines in the credit report, performing thefollowing: identifying a set of one or more properties of the tradeline; performing at least one removal success rate estimation for tradelines having all or a subset of the set of one or more properties; andcalculating at least one removability index for the trade line based onthe at least one removal success estimation, wherein each of theremovability index includes at least one of a removal difficulty indexrepresenting a relative estimated difficulty in removing the trade line,and a removal speed index representing a relative estimated speed inremoving the trade line; sequencing initiation of intercessionassociated with trade lines corresponding to the calculated removabilityindices at least in part based on the at least one calculatedremovability index; and performing initiation of intercession inaccordance with the sequence, wherein when it is time to initiateintercession associated with a trade line, a physical letter relating tothe trade line is mailed to a creditor associated with the trade line,or a credit bureau associated with the credit report.
 22. The method inaccordance with claim 21, wherein the set of one or more properties ofthe trade line comprises at least one of a severity type of the tradeline, whether the trade line is installment or revolving, a balancerange, a utilization ratio range, and a creditor identity.
 23. Acomputer-implemented method comprising: an act of a computing systemaccessing computer-executable instructions, and executing thosecomputer-executable instructions using one or more digital processorsthereby causing the following to be performed for each of at least someof a plurality of trade lines in a credit report: an act of a trade linecharacterization module accessing a digital representation of the tradeline, identifying a set of one or more properties of the trade lineusing the accessed digital representation of the trade line, andproviding a digital representation of the set of one or more properties;an act of a removal success rate module referencing the digitalrepresentation of the set of one or more properties to perform at leastone removal success rate estimation for trade lines having all or asubset of the set of one or more properties, formulating a digitalrepresentation of each removal success rate estimation, and providingthe digital representation of each of the at least one removal successrate estimation; and an act of a removability index calculation modulereferencing the digital representation of the at least one removalsuccess rate estimation to calculate at least one removability index forthe trade line, formulating a digital representation of each calculatedremovability index, and providing the digital representation of each ofthe at least one removability index; an act of a computing systemaccessing computer-executable instructions, and executing thosecomputer-executable instructions using one or more digital processorsthereby causing a business logic module to reference digitalrepresentations of removability indices corresponding to trade lines ofthe credit report to determine a course of action for the credit reportof the individual based on the digital representation of the calculatedremovability indices.
 24. The method in accordance with claim 23,wherein the set of one or more properties of at least one of the tradelines having a digital representation accessed by the trade linecharacterization module comprises a severity type of the trade line. 25.The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein the set of one or moreproperties of at least one of the trade lines having a digitalrepresentation accessed by the trade line characterization modulecomprises whether the trade line is installment or revolving.
 26. Themethod in accordance with claim 23, wherein the set of one or moreproperties of at least one of the trade lines having a digitalrepresentation accessed by the trade line characterization modulecomprises a balance range.
 27. The method in accordance with claim 23,wherein the set of one or more properties of at least one of the tradelines having a digital representation accessed by the trade linecharacterization module comprises a creditor identity.
 28. The method inaccordance with claim 23, wherein at least one of the removal successrate estimations having a digital representation formed by the removalsuccess rate module comprises: a historical success rate for trade linesfor trade lines having a first property of the set of one or moreproperties of the trade line.
 29. The method in accordance with claim28, wherein historical success rate is a first historical success rate,the at least one of the removal success rate estimations having thedigital representation formed by the removal success rate module furthercomprising: a second historical success rate for trade lines having asecond property of the set of one or more properties of the trade line.30. The method in accordance with claim 28, wherein historical successrate is a first historical success rate, the at least one of the removalsuccess rate estimations having the digital representation formed by theremoval success rate module further comprising: a second historicalsuccess rate for trade lines having at least a second property and athird property of the set of one or more properties of the trade line.31. The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein the at least oneremoval success rate comprises a single historical success rate fortrade lines having all of the set of one or more properties of the tradeline.
 32. The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein the determinedcourse of action includes sequencing initiation of intercessionassociated with trade lines corresponding to the calculated removabilityindices at least in part based on the calculated removability indices.33. The method in accordance with claim 32, wherein the sequencingintercession is also performed at least based in part on clientpreference.
 34. The method in accordance with claim 23, wherein thedetermined course of action is calculating a relative difficulty inimproving the credit report based on the aggregated plurality ofremovability indices.
 35. The method in accordance with claim 34,wherein the determined course of action is also estimating a risk ofattrition of a client requesting improvement of a credit report of theindividual, the estimated risk of attrition at least based on thecalculated relative difficulty in improving the credit report, as wellas calculated relative difficulty in improving previous instances of thecredit report of the individual.
 36. The method in accordance with claim34, further comprising performing additional client communications basedon the calculated difficulty in improving the credit report.
 37. Themethod in accordance with claim 23, wherein the determined course ofaction is estimating a risk of attrition of a client requestingimprovement of a credit report of the individual.
 38. The method inaccordance with claim 37, wherein estimating the risk of attrition ofthe client is further based on demographic client demographics.
 39. Themethod in accordance with claim 37, wherein estimating the risk ofattrition of the client is further based on a results rate in improvingthe credit report.
 40. A computer program product comprising one or morecomputer-readable storage media having thereon computer-executableinstructions that are structured such that, when executed by one or morephysical processors of the computing system, cause the computing systemto instantiate and/or operate the following: a trade linecharacterization module configured to 1) access a digital representationof a trade line of at least some of a plurality of trade lines, and 2)identify a set of one or more properties of each accessed trade lineusing the accessed digital representation of the trade line; a removalsuccess rate module configured to 1) reference a digital representationof the set of one or more properties identified by the trade linecharacterization module, 2) perform at least one removal success rateestimation for trade lines having all or a subset of the set of one ormore properties, and 3) formulate a digital representation of eachremoval success rate estimation; and a removability index calculationmodule configured to 1) reference the digital representation of the atleast one removal success rate estimation formulated by the removalsuccess rate module, 2) calculate at least one removability index forthe trade line based on the referenced at least one removal success rateestimation, and 3) formulate a digital representation of each calculatedremovability index; and a business logic module configured to 1)reference digital representations of removability indices correspondingto trade lines of the credit report and formulated by the removabilityindex calculation module, and 2) determine a course of action for thecredit report of the individual based on the digital representation ofthe calculated removability indices provided by the removability indexcalculation module.
 41. The computer program product in accordance withclaim 40, wherein the set of one or more properties of the trade linecomprises a creditor identity.
 42. The computer program product inaccordance with claim 40, wherein the at least one removal success rateestimation comprises: a historical success rate for trade lines fortrade lines having a first property of the set of one or more propertiesof the trade line.
 43. The computer program product in accordance withclaim 40, wherein the at least one removability index comprises aremoval difficulty index representing a relative estimated difficulty inremoving the trade line.
 44. The computer program product in accordancewith claim 40, wherein the at least one removability index alsocomprises a removal speed index representing a relative estimated speedin removing the trade line.
 45. The computer program product inaccordance with claim 40, wherein the determined course of actionincludes sequencing initiation of intercession associated with tradelines corresponding to the calculated removability indices at least inpart based on the calculated removability indices.
 46. The method inaccordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one removability indexcomprises a removal difficulty index representing a relative estimateddifficulty in removing the trade line.
 47. The method in accordance withclaim 21, wherein the at least one removability index also comprises aremoval speed index representing a relative estimated speed in removingthe trade line.
 48. The method in accordance with claim 21, furthercomprising: initiating intercession in accordance with the sequencing.